Anyone know the names of the long legged birds?

[Stitchless]

I know one of them is the White Ibis but there's also grey and brown colored birds who look very similar that I'm trying to find the names of. When you take the boat from Port Orleans Riverside you see them sunning themselves along the bank of the river. One species looks so much like a larger version of another bird that it's called something like the small whatever species, even though the two are not related.

I've gone through my vacation photos to show an example of what I'm talking about but the pictures were on my old PC


This picture isn't mine, I just found it on the internet to provide an idea of what I'm talking about.

 

[OKW Lover]

Looks like a Blue Herron, perhaps a Great Blue Herron.

 

[tazdev3225]

I'd say a Blue Heron also. I finally got a good picture of one in AK this past December. We have some up here that's I have been trying to get pictures of in flight for a couple of years. They always fly close when I am driving.

 

[FINFAN]

I was going to say anahinga(sp?) but I don't think they're legs are that long/ Looks like an egret of some sort to me


ETA The above posters have my vote

 

[Polydweller]

Looks like a Blue Herron, perhaps a Great Blue Herron.

Not the great blue (they have a white face) this is the Little Blue Heron which has blue to gray coloring including face.

 

[Danibelle]

Not the great blue (they have a white face) this is the Little Blue Heron which has blue to gray coloring including face.

Great! The neck is a shade of maroon.

 

[Planogirl]

The Great Blue Heron is similar to this but huge by comparison. It's the Little Blue Heron.

This is the Great Blue:

The Anhingas are the dark birds that love to sit on the docks and branches with their wings spread out.

 

[cschaaf]

The Anhingas are the dark birds that love to sit on the docks and branches with their wings spread out.

Yes, and when Anhingas are in the water, they just have their heads and necks out. They look like snakes swimming through the water.

They will dive to get their food, then dry out on the banks with their wings spread. They aren't water resistant like a duck.